PT Serif

Headings, lists, and emphasis

16/22For decades, critics have predicted the end of the written word: “No one reads anymore! No one writes anymore!” Yet from birth certificates to gravestones, from T-shirts to text messaging, the written word—and thus reading—is woven into the fabric of our everyday lives.

Same font set large for a heading

Throughout history, we have used the written word to record and preserve who we are and what we care about: possessions, laws, commitments, ideas, and memories. Words and characters, once impressed in clay, written on papyrus, and printed with ink, are now manifest in pixels of light.

Same font in loosely spaced all caps

The use of text messaging for casual conversation has exploded, surpassing phone conversation as the communication method of choice—suggesting our personal connection to reading and writing continues to thrive.

Same font set as larger italic (if available) heading

People read. they seek connection to their community, answers to their questions, lessons to augment their skills, and new ideas to influence their lives. People may not participate in sustained reading the way they used to (or the way we think they used to), but people read. They text, tweet, and post on Facebook. They search for things they need or want to know. They get lost in stories. People read what is important to them.

If we define reading only as a sustained and literary activity, if we acknowledge only one kind of reading, we measure ourselves against a fabricated truth. We ignore the actual activity and exclude people’s needs and desires.

Same font set as bold (if available) heading

The truth is there are different ways to read, and they are all valid and important. As typographers, we can support them all. Choosing a legible, readable web font is a good start.

Body size · compared to Georgia

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Leading – CSS font-size/line-height (px)

16/20As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

16/21As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

16/22As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

16/23As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

16/24As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

· 42px ·

As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers.

Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content.

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Measure – CSS font-size/line-height × width (px)

17/23 × 500 Casual reading is skimming over a text, reading sentences here and there (the first sentence of each paragraph, the caption, the pull quote) to get a general idea and flavor of the text. Sustained reading is engaged reading. It includes pleasure reading (pursued for its own sake) and reading for understanding. Readers slow down, read the entire text, and may go into a trancelike state.

16/22 × 500 Casual reading is skimming over a text, reading sentences here and there (the first sentence of each paragraph, the caption, the pull quote) to get a general idea and flavor of the text. Sustained reading is engaged reading. It includes pleasure reading (pursued for its own sake) and reading for understanding. Readers slow down, read the entire text, and may go into a trancelike state.

15/21 × 500 Casual reading is skimming over a text, reading sentences here and there (the first sentence of each paragraph, the caption, the pull quote) to get a general idea and flavor of the text. Sustained reading is engaged reading. It includes pleasure reading (pursued for its own sake) and reading for understanding. Readers slow down, read the entire text, and may go into a trancelike state.

14/20 × 350 Scanning with purpose is scanning down or across a text, jumping from section to section, looking for a specific piece of information. The reader may glance at the first letter or word of each section, dismissing incorrect matches and moving on.

13/19 × 350 Scanning with purpose is scanning down or across a text, jumping from section to section, looking for a specific piece of information. The reader may glance at the first letter or word of each section, dismissing incorrect matches and moving on.

12/18 × 250 Scanning with purpose is scanning down or across a text, jumping from section to section, looking for a specific piece of information. The reader may glance at the first letter or word of each section, dismissing incorrect matches and moving on.

Size – CSS font-size (px)

36 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

30 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

24 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

21 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

18 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

9 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

10 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

16 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

14 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

13 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

11 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

12 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

13 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

12 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

11 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

10 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

9 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

14 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

16 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

18 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

21 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

24 Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs.

Grayscale – CSS color (shorthand hexadecimal)

#000As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

#333As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

#666As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

#999As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

#CCCAs typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

Grayscale – CSS color (shorthand hexadecimal)

#FFFAs typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

#CCCAs typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

#999As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

#666As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.

#333As typographers, our first responsibility is to our readers. Our most important job is to help our readers find, understand, and connect with the words, ideas, and information they seek. Our second responsibility then, is to honor the content. We must help to clarify and share the meaning of the texts people read.